Silver And Black Pride
Jesse Minter’s Los Angeles Chargers defense has been quite the stingy group allowing just 238 points this season — good for 10th best in the NFL. The defensive coordinator has the Bolts ranked fifth in terms of yards allowed (3,147) which is helping buoy the NFL’s 20th-ranked scoring offense to a 7-4 overall record.
The 2-9 Las Vegas Raiders waltz into SoFi Stadium for this Sunday’s AFC West matchup with the Chargers boasting the 31st-ranked scoring offense and 23rd-ranked defense in terms of points allowed.
It’s not the most enticing Week 13 matchup on the NFL’s slate, however and oddly enough, this tilt marks a good time for Greg Olson’s ascension to interim offensive coordinator for the Silver & Black.
While the Chargers defense may be a Boa constrictor in terms of generally suffocating opposing offenses, Minter’s group has a middling run defense ranking 16th in yards allowed (1,252) and 28th in touchdowns given up (14 total). Los Angeles limped into the bye week after a 35-6 shellacking at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11. It was a clash that saw the Jaguars trample the Chargers for 192 rushing yards.
The Bolts being susceptible to a ground and pound offense is a fortuitous thing for Olson. In his seven seasons being involved with the Raiders offense (2013-14; 2019-2021; 2025) the Silver & Black had a penchant to run the ball and in a trio of seasons (2013, 2019, 2020) the Raiders were ranked 12th, 13th, and 14th in yards gained.
It’s only natural to scoff at how much Olson can turn around the 31st-ranked scoring offense that was previously helmed by ex-offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Las Vegas ranks 31st in rushing yards (874) and 30th in rushing touchdowns (four).
“Too far gone” is an apt response.
The Raiders’ offensive line is in shambles due to both injury and ineffectiveness which has dampened rookie running back Ashton Jeanty’s own effectiveness, alongside tight end Brock Bowers. Quarterback Geno Smith has been under siege frequently and has held onto the ball too long. And the opposition has basically played the role of Wreck It Ralph and gone after both Smith and Jeanty with wreck less abandon.
“We got the guys we got, and so we’re going to continue to have our guys battle to show what they can do and have their play time and what they earn during the week,” Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said when asked if there will be a change in offensive line usage with Olson dialing up plays. “But more so, it’s trying to get everybody connected with, really, the approach and the philosophy that really I’ve stood for for a long time. And so, we gave our guys a lot of leeway because of with the respect we have for the coaches, but it just hasn’t quite gotten right, and I think we can do better.”
Olson’s straight-forwardness on running the ball, using play action, and throwing to tight ends is good...
